To contribute actively to the digitalisation of companies in Portugal, Microsoft created Programa Mais, which aims to help companies benefit, with less red tape, from the government and European Union incentive systems through free consultancy in researching and analysing how projects fit within EUGA (European Union Grant Advisor). Programa Mais includes three types of incentives:

1 - Incentive System for Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Objectives:

• Productive innovation projects for Non-SMEs:

- Strengthen business investment in innovative activities, promoting increased tradable and internationalisable production and a change in the productive profile of the economic fabric.

- Contribute to the internationalisation and tradable orientation of the Portuguese economy and to the creation of skilled employment, as well as generating a knock-on effect on SMEs.

• SME Innovation Projects:

            - Promote innovation in the business fabric, translated into the production of new, or significantly improved, distinctive, high-quality tradable and internationalisable goods and services with a high level of national incorporation, creating internationalisation opportunities or strengthening the quality of the regions' business fabric.

Beneficiaries and Types:

Non-SME Innovation: Production of new goods and services or significant improvements to current production through the transfer and application of knowledge. Adoption of new, or significantly improved, manufacturing processes or methods.

SME Innovation: Production of new goods and services or significant improvements to current production through the transfer and application of knowledge. Adoption of new, or significantly improved, manufacturing, logistics and distribution processes or methods, as well as organisational methods.

Main eligible investments:

Construction of buildings and refurbishment works, machinery and equipment, IT equipment (including software), patent rights, licences, involvement of certified accountants/statutory auditors (TOC/ROC), engineering services, architecture and engineering projects, studies, diagnoses, audits, marketing plans, rolling stock related to tourism activity and human resources training.

Type of incentive:

Repayable incentive, interest-free, in half-yearly instalments over 8 years, with a 2-year grace period. Exemption from repayment depending on the assessment of the company's results, up to a maximum of 50% of the repayable incentive.

Incentive rate:

35% for large companies, 50% for medium-sized companies and for small companies with eligible expenditure of 5 million euros or more, 60% for small companies with eligible expenditure below 5 million euros.

Additional increases:

10% for low-density territories; 10% demonstration and dissemination; 10% qualified and creative entrepreneurship; 10% youth or female entrepreneurship; 10% sustainability.

2 - Incentive System for SME Internationalisation

Objectives:

Strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs and promote the sustainability and quality of employment. Internationalisation projects: strengthen the business capacity of SMEs by developing their qualification processes for internationalisation, enhancing the intangible factors of competitiveness and helping to increase their export base and capacity.

Beneficiaries and types:

SMEs that keep organised accounts and have no salary arrears. Companies eligible for P2020. Individual or simplified projects: micro, small or medium-sized enterprises. Joint projects: public or private non-profit bodies of an associative nature with remits aimed at SMEs.

Main eligible investments:

Participation in trade fairs and exhibitions abroad, prospecting activities in foreign markets, outbound business missions and inbound missions, market studies, consultancy services (prospecting for and acquiring new customers, marketing campaigns in foreign markets, among others), creation of brands and collections aimed at international markets, digital marketing (inbound marketing, social media, search engines, among others), application hosting and joining electronic platforms, international web presence (website, electronic catalogues, online shops, marketplaces, among others), vocational training.

Nature and rates:

Individual project: non-repayable incentive, 45% for SMEs. Limit of 500,000 euros per project. 50 on eligible expenditure on vocational training. Joint project: non-repayable incentive, 50% for SMEs, 85% for the promoter (association, etc.); Limit of 180,000 euros per company.

3 - Incentive system for Research and Technological Development

Objectives:

Increase business investment in R&I - Research & Innovation, aligned with the priority areas of the research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3).

Main Eligible Investments:

Expenditure on technical staff dedicated to R&D activities; acquisition or licensing of patents from external sources; raw materials, consumables and components; acquisition of third-party services, including technical and scientific assistance and consultancy; expenditure on disseminating results to the sector, end users or target companies; travel and accommodation abroad necessary for the R&D project; indirect project costs; adaptation of buildings and facilities; etc.

Nature:

Business R&D incentive: Non-repayable up to 1 million euros per beneficiary (from 1 million euros: 75% non-repayable and 25% repayable if above 50,000 euros.

Non-business entities SI&I (Co-promotion): Non-repayable

Base Rate:

25% Business R&D incentive

Participation in trade fairs and exhibitions: 50%

Written by:
Openlimits

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